Oven



T. E. PHARES June 17, 1958 OVEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 T. E. PHARES June 17, 1958 I OVEN 4 SheetsSh 2 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 4. A D WU 'r. E. PHAREs OVEN June 17, 1958 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 O W 6 ,ll

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T. E. PHARES June 17, 1958 OVEN 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Oct. 14, 1950 m, AM

United States Patent OVEN Thomas Esta Phares, Shelbyville, Ind., assignor to Chambers Corporation, a corporation of Indiana Application October 14, 1950, Serial No. 190,071

7 Claims. (Cl. 12639) This invention relates to an oven, and is particularly concerned with a gas oven constructed as a unit, separate from a stove or range. The oven of this invention is suitable as a cabinet installation in a kitchen having a plurality of cabinets of various kinds arranged adjacent each other to economize on kitchen space and/or to present a neat uniform appearance.

The present trend in cooking stoves is towards a fiat top construction which necessitates positioning the oven, when an oven is included in the stove, at a comparatively low level. This is both inconvenient and uncomfortable for the housewife because of the excessive amount of stooping and bending required incidental to the use of an oven positioned at a low level. Most modern kitchens are provided with a plurality of cabinet installations grouped together to save space, reduce the amount of walking the housewife must do in the kitchen, and to present an attractive appearance. The desirability of providing an even as a separate unit that may be positioned with the cabinet grouping and at a convenient working level is obvious. However, such arrangements for a gas oven have been considered impractical heretofore because the space required by an oven for the air inlet and exhaust prevented the positioning of cabinets immediately adjacent the oven. Additionally, the walls of the oven were generally so hot when the oven was in use that an air space was required between the oven and adjacent cabinets for insulation purposes. All attempts heretofore to include a gas oven with a grouping of cabinets of miscellaneous uses spoiled the continuity of the design of the kitchen interior arrangement because the oven of necessity had to be separated from the other cabinet structures.

' In accordance with the present invention a gas oven suitable for use as a cabinet installation is provided with inlet air louvers in the front wall below the burner so that the secondary air necessary for support of the combustion of the burner is available as needed adjacent the burner, and a supply of cooling air surrounding the cooking cavity of the oven is also available, regardless of the presence of other cabinets or walls immediately adjacent both sides, top, bottom and rear wall of the oven. Since the air inlet is in the front wall of the oven cabinet, rather than in the bottom wall as in prior art oven constructions, it is possible to position the oven cabinet on top of one of the other cabinets of the kitchen installation, thereby positioning the oven at a level which is convenient for the housewife.

The cabinet construction of the oven of the present invention directs the hot products of combustion to the front of the oven where they are discharged into the atmosphere. The discharge of the exhaust gases at the front of the oven makes it possible to provide the top .of the oven cabinet with a smooth unbroken wall so that other cabinets may be positioned thereon, if desired. The passage of the hot exhaust gases from the rear of the oven cabinet to the front discharge opening is confined to the central portion of the cabinet, and

2,839,044 Patented June 17, 1958 the cool air which circulates around the sides and back of the oven is discharged through openings in front of the oven. These cool air discharge openings are positioned above and on opposite sides of the hot air duct. This arrangement tends to cool the hot exhaust gases before they are discharged from the oven cabinet and also protects adjacent cabinets by providing cool air insulation on the'top-and at both sides of the hot air duct.

The structure of the present invention by which the above and other advantages are attained will be described in the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, showing a few preferred illustrative embodiments of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a cabinet installation with an oven embodying the present invention surrounded by cabinets on all sides; 1

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the oven with portions of the wall broken away to illustrate the cabinet structure, the view being taken from one rear corner and looking forwardly;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the oven with a portion of the wall broken away to illustrate the damper control mechanism; 7 I

Fig. 5 is a horizontal cross sectional view, taken along the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross sectional view, taken along the line 66 of Fig. 3; v

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross sectional "view through the upperportion of a modified embodiment of the oven; Fig, 8 is a cross sectional view, taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross sectional view showing the top rear corner construction of another modified embodiment in which the top panel is provided with upwardly projecting air vents for the escape of the exhaust gases;

Fig. 10 is a cross sectional view along the line 10--10 of Fig. 9; and

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross sectional view through an upper rear corner of a modified embodiment provided with a fine extending through the top panel.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings, the reference numeral 2 indicates an oven mounted on top of a cabinet 3 with other cabinets 4 and 5 positioned adjacent opposite sides and having another cabinet 6 mounted on the top panel of the oven. The cabinets 3, 4, S and 6 may comprise a freezer, dish washing machine, cupboard for dishes, etc. The entire groupof cabinets, including the oven, may be arranged in the manner indicated, or in some other suitable manner, to save kitchen space, reduce the amount of walking the housewife must do in the kitchen, and present an attractive appearance.

As shown in Figs. 2 to 6 of the drawings, the oven comprises a base 7 of rectangular formation which has a front wall 8 formed by the lower portion of a panel 8 extending from the bottom to the top portion of the front of the oven structure, side walls 9 and 10, a rear wall 11, and a top wall 12. The front wall is provided with a plurality of air intake louvers 8 which permit the entry of a flow of air which is divided by a pair of separate air passageway systems within thecabinet, a portion of it flowing in one of said air passageway systems adjacent a burner 13 to furnish secondary air necessary to support the combustion of the gas issuing from the burner, which may be ignited by a pilot light or through a lighter tube 13'. The other air passageway system causes the rest of the air to circulate Within the cabinet as a cooling medium in a manner hereinafter s i 3 6 described. Top wall 12 of centrally disposed opening 14 which serves as a secondary air inlet for the air to the burner, The air inlet opening; is positioned directly below" burner 13.

1 -"'Ihe"oven'-propercomprises an inner hull 15. This hull, comprising: 'side-w'alls'16 and 17, back wall 18 and {615 wall 19, is {supported-on top wall 12 of base 7. An inside bottomplate 20 is alsosupported by'wall 12 and is' spaced' therefrom by downturned flanges 21. Plate 20'isprovided with a centralfopening and a downturned the base is provided witha- 1 runners zd- Baffle'plate 27 ispositioned above burner 13 to prevent the burner flame from corninginto direct contact with utensils supported on the oven racks and to distribute'the heat fromthe burner uniformly throughout the cooking cavity. n V I f a An outerhull 29, comprising side walls and 3 1, bacrwau 32; and1t'op-lwall33, is supported on top 'wall 12 in spaced relationship to inner hull 15. The

space between theinne'rand outer hulls is filled with suitable insulationmaterial 34. The wallsof outer hull 29 are spaced inwardly from the outer edges of base 7.

The upper edges of sidewalls 30 and 31 are provided with outwardly extending flanges 35 and 36, respectively. Endpa'nels 37'and 38, having their lower portions posi tioned adjacent the outer-surfaces of side walls 9 and 10 of the base extend upwardly to flanges 35 and 36, respectively; and have inwardly extending flanges 39 and 40 overlying flanges 35 and 361 V a v a e C'The back of the oven' 'is protected by another layer of insulation 41 spaced from back wall .32 of the outer hull; This layer of insulation is confined between two plates 42 and 43 'spaced'forwardly of the rear edge of top wall 12 0f the base and supported thereon. As shown in Fig." 5, 'insulation 41 does notextend entirely across the. back of outer hull29 and is spaced from back wall 32 by flanges 44 and '45 extending forwardly and outwardly from the ends of plate 43 to engage plate 32, as indicatedat 44' and 45. i V

An extra layer of insulation 46 is also provided for the-top of the oven. This insulation is confined between plates 47 and'48. The rear edge of plate 47 rests on the top of plate 42. a The sides of plate 48' are bent downwardly as indicated at 49' and 50", and then outwardlyto form flanges 49 and 50 which are supported on top wall 33 'ofthe outer-hull. Flange 49extends between flanges 35 and 39, andflange 50 extends between flanges- 36 and 40;

A back panel 51, having its lower portion positioned adjacent back wall '11 of base 7 extends upwardlyapproximately tothe plane of top wall 33 and its upper edge is bent inwardly to form a flange 52 which engages the rear surface .of plate 43. A top panel 53, spaced above plate 48, has its rear edge bent downwardly, as

indicated at 54, to engage flange 52 and its side edges arebent downwardly,as indicated at 55 and 56, and then inwardly to form flanges 57 and 58 which engage flanges '39 and 40 respectively. The forward edge of top panel 53 extends beyond the forward edge of plates 47 and "48 andisprovided with a downturned edge 59.

The section of top wall '12 of base 7 positioned between walls 30and 37 is provided with a plurality of openings" 60 which occupy substantially the entire surface of thisportion of Wall 12 and leave only a skeletal structure comprising thin webs 61 separating openings 60. The section of wall 12 between walls 31 and 38 is similarly provided with openings 62. The rear por tions of walls 30 and 31 which lie between the flanges 44, 45 and the back panel 51 are also provided with openings 63 and 64. The flanges 35, 49, 39 and 57 which are juxtaposed at the upper edge of side wall 30, and the corresponding flanges 36, 50, -40and 58 at the upper. edge of side wall 31 are each provided with registering openings 65. All of the openings 60, 62,63, 64 and 65 cooperate to form a passageway for cool air which envelops the oven. The cool air moves constantly as a cooling layer aboutthe oven to cool the same. It enters the passageways through louvers 8'. Only a portion of this air is required as secondary air to support combustion of the gas issuing from burner 13.

The vertical spaces 66 and 67 at the outer rear corners of the oven and the horizontal spaces 68 and 69 at the outer edges of the top of the oven 'cooperate'to provide continuous ducts for cool air which flows forwardly and is discharged into the atmosphere between down-- turned edge 59'and the front edge of the oven on eac side bfthe hot air duct hereinafter described.

As previously mentioned, theportion of the air passing through louvers 8' that is required as secondary air to support. combustion 'of the gas issuing from burner 13 passes upwardly through air inlet opening 14. Air

inlet opening 14 is provided with a damper 70 that is maintained in open position when the gas is turned'on,

and is closed "automatically when the gas isturned Ofl.

A flueopening 71 is" provided in the back of'the oven through walls 18 and 32m permit the escape of the hot products of combustion into the hot gas duct 71 defined by the outer hull wall 32, plate 42 and flanges 44 and 45 of 'plate 43. Pine opening 71 is provided with a collar 72'and a damper '73.

Both dampers 70 and 73 are operated automatically and simultaneously by the mechanism shown in Fig.4 A

rod 74 has one end secured to a disk 75 mounted on the shaft 76 of the gas valve so as to rotate with the handle 77 which controls the flow of 'gasto burner 13. The opposite end of rod 74 is connected't'o a'link 78 pivoted to wall 30, as indicated at '79. A rod 80secured at one end to link 78 is connected at its otherend to a bell crank 81. Bellcrank81 is rigidly secured to a rod 82 to which a link 83 is rigidly secured. The opposite end of link 83 is mounted on a stud 84 which passes through damper -70 to move it'upwardly toopen position when handle 77 is rotated to turn the gas on and downwardly to closed position when the handle is rotated to turn the gas oil. A rod 85 extending from the other arm of bell crank 81 is connected to a shaft 86 on. which damper 73 is mounted so that both dampers are opened and closed simultaneously.-

The hotexhaust gases'flow upwardly through duct 71 and then forwardly through ahorizontal hot exhaust gas duct 87 which is defined by top wall 33 of the outer hull, plate 47, and sides 49' and so'or plate '48. The layer of coolair flowing between top panel 53 and plate 48 and V the layer of insulation 46 cooperate to prevent transmission underedge'59 oftop' panel'53 at the front of the oven.

The embodiment shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is essentially the same as that of Figs. 1 to 6, the main difierences being thatthe aperturedflanges'between the upper edge .of outer hull 29 and end panels 37 and 38 and flange 52 between the outeihull' and back panel 51 are omitted to provide an unrestricted passageway for the flow of cool air." 2 The tflariges 491i and 50a of plate 48 do' not extend beyond the wall's 30 and 31, respectively; The-upper edge portions 88 and 89 of end panels'37" and 38' are'ofiset,

as indicated at' 90- and 91; respectively; to receiveflanges 92 and 93 extending downwardly fromtop panel 53'. The upper portion 94 of back panel 51' is offset, as indicated at 95, to receive flange 96 extending downwardly from the rear edge of top panel 53'.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the top wall 53a is provided with louvers 97 which permit the escape of the cooling air at the rear of the oven top. The construction otherwise is identical to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive.

In Fig. 11 plates 47' and 48, and top panel 53b are provided with aligned openings forming a flue 98. A flue collar99 is positioned on top panel 53b in vertical alignment with flue 98 and a suitable st'ove pipe 100 is fitted on the flue collar to direct the products of combustion away from the oven. In this embodiment the duct 87 serves as a relief passage to permit the escape of the exhaust gases if flue 98 becomes clogged or stopped for any reason. Fromthe. foregoing it will be apparent that I have provided the lower front wall of an oven with an inlet which functions, regardless of the positioning of the oven, to provide a flow of air that is divided into two separate circulating systems, one of which furnishes secondary air to support the combustion of the gas issuing from the oven burner, and the other of which furnishes a continuously circulating envelope of cool air surrounding the hot air duct on its top and both sides, thereby facilitating the cooling of the hot exhaust gases before they are discharged into the atmosphere and additionally protecting adjacent cabinet structures by preventing transmission of heat from the hot air duct to either side or the top wall of the oven. The sides and back of the oven are also cooled by a circulating envelope of cool air, thus protecting adjacent cabinet structures at these regions. All circulatory systems include means providing a discharge into the atmosphere through the upper front of the oven.

Although I have described a few preferred embodiments of my invention in considerable detail, it will be understood that the description thereof is intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many details may be modified or changed without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structure described.

I claim:

1. An oven having smooth imperforate top, back, and end panels, a front wall, an air inlet in said front wall, said front wall having an upper edge displaced from the lower surface of said imperforate top panel to form a discharge opening, a cooking compartment in said oven above said front wall air inlet, a door opening providing access to said cooking compartment, an imperforate door hinged to said front wall to completely close said door opening, a burner in said cooking compartment, an air inlet opening in the bottom of said cooking compartment adjacent said burner, said burner in operation consuming a portion of the cool air from said air inlet opening and creating hot exhaust gases, a duct for conducting said hot exhaust gases to said discharge opening, and a separate duct for conducting the unconsumed portion of the cool air from said .air inlet to said discharge opening, said second mentioned duct having a Portion overlying said first mentioned duct, whereby said cool air serves as insulation for said hot exhaust gases.

2. An oven comprising .a cooking compartment having a back wall, a burner in said cooking compartment, a flue opening in said back wall, a duct for hot exhaust gases, said duct communicating with said flue opening and extending from the rear portion of the oven across the top thereof, said duct opening into the atmosphere adjacent the top front edge of said oven, and a pair of air ducts on opposite sides of said first mentioned duct communicating with a source of cool air outside of said oven, whereby said pair of air ducts permit the flow of cool air on each side of said first mentioned duct to cool the hot exhaust gases flowing through said first mentioned duct.

3. An oven having smooth imperforate top, back, and end panels, a front wall, an opening in said front wall, a door normally closing said opening, and an air inlet in said front wall separate from said opening, a cooking compartment within said oven spaced from said top and back panels to form a passageway for the flow of hot exhaust gas, said cooking compartment being spaced above said front wall air inlet, a burner in said cooking compartment, and a flue opening extending through one wall of said cooking compartment and communicating with said hot exhaust gas passageway to permit hot exhaust gas from said cooking compartment to flow into said passageway, said front wall having an upper edge displaced from the lower surface of said imperforate top panel to form an opening therebetween for the escape of exhaust gas after it has passed around the back and top walls of said cooking compartment, said last mentioned opening being independent of said first mentioned opening.

4. An oven having smooth imperforate top, back, and end panels, a front Wall, an opening in said front wall, a door normally closing said opening, an air inlet in said front wall separate from said opening, a cooking compartment within said oven above said front wall air inlet, said cooking compartment being spaced from said top, back and end panels, a fine opening extending through one wall of said cooking compartment, said front wall having an upper edge displaced from the lower surface of said imperforate top panel to form a discharge opening independent of said first mentioned opening, a burner in said cooking compartment, said burner consuming a portion of the cool air from said air inlet and creating hot exhaust gases, a duct communicating with said flue opening and extending between said cooking compartment and said back and top panels from said flue opening to said discharge opening for conducting said hot exhaust gases from said cooking compartment to said discharge opening, and a duct communicating with said air inlet to receive a portion of the cool air from said inlet not consumed by said burner, said last mentioned duct being separated from said first duct and extending between said cooking compartment and said oven panels to said discharge opening.

5. In an oven, at base having a top wall, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, said front wall having an air inlet to permit the flow of air from the atmosphere to the interior of said base, a cabinet supported on said base, said cabinet having a front panel, a top panel, a back panel, and two side panels, the forward edge of said top panel being spaced from the upper edge of said front panel to form a discharge opening therebetween, an outer hull supported on said base in spaced relationship within said cabinet, an inner hull supported on said base in spaced relationship within said outer hull, both of said hulls bein open at the front, a door in the front panel of said cabinet to provide access to the interior of said inner hull to permit use of the space within said inner hull for oven cooking purpose, the top wall of said base having an air inlet opening extending therethrough to the space within said inner hull, said inner and outer hulls having a flue opening extending therethrough, a burner positioned within said inner hull above said air inlet opening in the top wall of said base, and a duct leading from said flue opening to said discharge opening.

6. In an oven, a base having a top Wall, a front wall, a back wall and two side walls, said front wall having an air inlet to permit the flow of air from the atmosphere to the interior of said base, a cabinet supported on said base, said cabinet having a front panel, a top panel, a back panel, and two side panels, the forward edge of said top panel being spaced from the upper edge of said front panel to form a discharge opening therebetween, an outer hull supported on said base in spaced relationship within said cabinet an insulating panel interposed between said back panel and the back of said outer hull,

a second insulating panel interposed betweenrsaid top panel and the, top of said outer hull, said insulating panels'coop'erating with said back and top panels to fornian air duct leading from the interior of said base to a said discharge opening, said insulating panels cooperatto the space Within said inner hull, said inner and-outer hulls having a flue opening extending there-through and communicating with said second duct, and a burner positioned Within said inner hull above said air inlet opening in the top Wall of said base.

7. An oven as'described in claim 2, said even having a top'panel provided with a plurality of discharge openings adjacent its rear edge, said air ducts communicating with said discharge openings.

1 References Citedinthe file of this'patent vi f UNIT STATES. AIE I Claw/5011' '1- ".r' :1 V r-'-* 'fw Stein May 22,1923 Reedy Ian. 3, 1928 Schmitt V July 29, 1930 Becker Mar. 8, 1932 BurroW Oct. 11, 1938 Kritzera Nov. 5, 194.0 Brumbaugh'; Dec; 2, 19,41 Rose July 21 1 942 v Phares Dec. 21, 1943 Van Guilder Jan. 18, 1944 Buhrnan et a1. Mar. 16, 19 48 Groetchen Sept, 21, 1948 Mendel Oct. 24, 1950 Esson Nov. 14,'-1 95Q Pollock Dec. 23, 1952, Ruhl Dec. :7, 1 9 54 

